Gang member slain in Tondo

MANILA, Philippines—Three motorcycle-riding men gunned down Friday night a Batang City Jail gang member in front of his horrified live-in partner and his sister as they were walking home in in Tondo, Manila.

The gunmen, who rode two motorcycles, shot to death Roberto Melgarejo, 27, of 401-B Interior 32, Perla Street in Tondo. Melgarejo died several minutes into treatment for multiple bullet wounds at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Hospital.

Jay-R Gutierrez, Mak Mak Sumpak, and a still unidentified cohort fled after the attack on the BCJ gang member and are the objects of a police hunt.

Police Officer 3 Mario Asilo of the Manila Police District homicide section said that the shooting happened at around 8:30 pm on Perla Street in Tondo.

He said Melgarejo was with his common law wife Cheryl Hilario and his older sister Daisy when the gunmen blocked their path. Surprised, the trio was unable to run. The men drew handguns, repeatedly fired at Melgarejo, then fled.

The two women then rushed the wounded Melgarejo to the nearest hospital.

Asilo said the killing may have been payback for an old grudge that the suspects bore against the victim. But witnesses could not provide clues to what triggered the attack.